Motor-driven windshield cleaner



April 12, 1927.

S. LIPPERT MOTOR DRIVEN WINDSHIELD CLEANER 26. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov.

f XM s. LIPPERT MOTOR DRIVEN WINDSHIELD CLEANER April 12, 1927.

Filed Nov. 26, 1923 4 SheebS-Sheet 5 /JNM MMM l 1`2 192 Apr! 7 s. LIPPERT MOTOR DRIVEN WINDSHELD CLEANER Filed Nov. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNiTED 'STATES 1,624,264" PATENT orricr..

`SAlllI'lil'EL LIPPERT, 0F GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OUTLOOK OOM- A PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Moron-Draven vvnrnsnnmn CLEANER.

Application led November 26, 1921i. Serial No. 676,971.

This invention, while relating generally to the class of windshield cleaners, has to do particularly with an improved motor for use in automatic or power-'driven apparatus of 5. the aforesaid class, and yet more especially where the. .Same is so-called suction operated.

There are many cleaners of Vthis general type now in use, some -eniployingmiotors incorporating opposed cylinders, others incorporating diaphragnis, and still others which are of the Well-known oscillatory type, eachkind involving valve mechanism which has to be moved to its opposite extreme position by means 'of a spring, as otherwise the motorivould stop on dead center,A so to speak, a situation well understood bythose familiar with this sort of ap- T heoscillating type of motor, because of its simplicity and reliability (if properly constructed), is generally conceded to be preferable to the opposed cylinder oiidiaphi-agili types but as heretofore constructed, 'it ha@ proved to be somewhat difficult and expensive of manufacture, and more or less objectionable on account of the. amount of area of the windshield it covers, the same being located necessarilydirectly in fiont of the driver.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the motor and so arrange the power transmitting mechanism between the prime mover and the cleaner or Wiper that the motor occupies the minimum amount of area of the Windshield While yet the shaft` which carries the cleaner or Wiper is located very close to the top vof the casing to facilitate inetallation in vehicles especially the enclosed type Where the tops are compara.- tively low.

l Another and very important object of my invention is the production of a motor of the class in question that is constructedv practically entirely of die stamped sheet metal parts, thus greatly expediting and cheapening manufacture, insuring uniformity of product andaccuracy and proper cooperation of the parts, faeilitatinur assembly, im# proving the a pearance and lessening the ivcight of the .evice and materially increasing its strength and durability'.

T he foregoing Very desirable results, with other objects hereinafter appearing, are attained inthe construction illustrated in' the drawings accompanying and forming a. 79 part hereof and wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of awindshield,vas viewed from the drivers seat, and showing it equipped with the automatic windshield cleaner of y invention; Fig. 2 is a plan 75 view of Whatis shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan of the motor; Fig. 4 is a scctional front-elevation of the Same; Fig. 5 is a central vertical section vfrom front to rear through the apparatus and adjacent portion of the windshield; Fig. 6 is a section on the lines 6 6 of Figs. 3 and 4; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on the line 7--7 of Fig. 4; Fig.

8 is a fragmentary front vicivof the motor vvith the cleaner shaft andl positioning stud in section; Fig. 9 shows, in perspective, a group of plates whereof the front' partition of the operating chamber is composed; and Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views of the relay valve and main valve, respectively. 90

The pane of the windshield is designated y, l, the frame thereof is designated 2, andthe `instrument board of the vehicle Wliereon the windshield is mounted is shown at 3in Fig. 1. 95

The motor, which is designated generally by the numeral 5, comprises a ca-sing'made up of a top wall 6, a bottom wall 7 and a pe!l -ripheral Wall 8. 'llie walls 6 andi' are. sub4 stantially parallel 'and have arcuate rear 100 edges that are joined by the peripheral wall 8 thereby to enclose an operating chamber 10, wherein is located a vane (ii-'piston 11 that is secured to a shaft 12.

The vane is composed of a plate 15 which 105 has its inner edge fitted Within a groove 16 of the shaft 12 while its louter and lateral edges practically meet-the peripheral Wall 8 and respective top and bottom Walls 6 and 7. A sheet 17 of suitable packing material, 110

such as leather, has its central portion f wrapped about the shaft 12 and is disposed along the opposite sides ofthe plate 15, the outer and lateral edges of said sheet flaring outwardly and lying against the walls of the casing. Applied to the opposite sides of the vane are spring leaves 18 that are held in place by clamping plates 19 secured ,together by rivets 20 and 21 which pass through the various elements whereof-the vane is comjposed. The edges of the spring leaves 18 are formed to provide a plurality of tongues which bear upon the outwardly flared edge portions of the sheet 17 and serve to mainypiston is disclosed and claimed in my tain the same in proper frictional engagement with the walls of the chamber 10. Except for minor differences, this vane or copending application Serial No. 638,835, filed May 14, 1923. The rivet 21 serves the additional purpose of securing in place socket members 22 which contain bumpers 23 of leather orv the like that are adapted to engage the front wall 25 of the chamber 10.

The wall 25 is composed of plates 26 andV 27 that are shown in detail in Fig. 9. The central portion of the plate 26 is offset rearwardly and curved to form a saddle 28 thatl receives the wrapped shaft 12.

Thus by means of the vane ,and shaft, the chamber v 10 is divided into two fluid tight compartand 36 which register at their inner endswith slots37 and 38 and at their outer ends with holes 39 'and 40 in the plate 27. Intermediate the slots 37 and 38 the plate 27 is provided with an opening 41. At substantially the center of itsloweredge the plate 27 has a port 42,- and spaced laterally from said ort, and in alignment therewith transverse y of the plate, are ports 43 and 44 which register with like ports '43a and 44a in the plate 26. In other words, the ports 43 and 44 lejad through the wall 25 into the The is closed by the 5 while the top to be closed by compartments A and B; respectively. bottom of the chamber30 bottom wall 7 of the casing of said chamber isadapted a properly shaped plate'45 which is insert# ed within the upper end of the chamber between the plates 26 and 27. While the casing 5 may be'formed in any suitable manner, according to the present construction the l:walls 7 and 8 are made integral while .from the bottom wall iscarried by thevgear 68 the wall 6 is applied tothe top of wall S and secured thereto, as by soldering, so as to effect a fluid tight joint between said walls.

Slidably engaging the plate 27 in the region of the ports 42, 43 and 44 is a main valve 5() which isshown in perspective in Fig. 11. This valve is conveniently formed by applying to a metal stamping 5.1 a frame 52, the parts being secured together by suitable means, as by welding or sweating. To maintain the valve in constant contact with the plate 27, a finger 53 may be employed which is flanged forwardly at its lower end for attachment to the `wall 7 and rearwardly at its upper end to overlie the middle portion-of the valve 50. The plate 51 terminates at its ends in laterally turned portions 55 having apertures through which the reduced threaded ends of piston 'rods 56 are engaged and to which said 'portions are secured by nuts 57. Trunk pistons 58 are secured to the outer ends of the rods 56 and incorporate cups 59 of suitable packing material, all of which may be in accordance with common practice.v Buffers 60 are carried by the pistons for engagement with the heads of cups or so-called cylinders 61 and 62 wherein the pistons operate. These cups are flattened for the sake of compactness although I shall refer to' them as cylinders. The cylinders are preferably made from sheet metal and areconnected to the plate '26 by hollow rivets or eyelets 63 which extend through the holes 39 and 40 of the plate-27 and thus establish communication between the cylinders and the respective passageways 35- and 36.

The lower end of the shaft 12 is journalcd within a hollow boss 65 which is depressed of the shaft is journaled within a boss 66 which is similarly formed from the top wall 6, and beyond the boss 66 the shaft has se-l cured to vit a' bevel gear 67 which meshes with a similar gear 68 which is loosely mounted on a stud 70 that is secured at its inner end, as by riveting, to the` plate 27.

Mounted yfor oscillation upon the stud 7U. adjacent the plate 27 is what I shall terni a relaypvalve 72 shown in detail in Fig. 10.

.This valve has a recess 73, and extending forwardly from the valve at dia-n'ietrically opposite points with respect to its oscillating axis are abutments 74. The recess 73 is in constant communication with the chamber 30 through the opening 41 and the valve is. adapted to be shifted, seas to bring the op` poite ends: of the 'recess 73 in to register with the sl0ts,'37 and 38. by-a p in 75 that when the gear is rotated in reverse directions asshall 'presently be explained. The relay valve is maintained adjacentthe plate 27 by a finger 76' that is secured, as'by'a rivet 77, to said plate.

7, and the upper end Fixed to the gear is a spur gear 78 which meshes with a similar gear 79on the inner end of a shaft 80 that is journaled within ,an externally threaded sleeve 81 which hasV its rear end clamped within an aperture ofthe wall 82 by nuts 83.v The `wall 82 constitutes the front of the casing and joins the bottom wall `7 and the eripheral Wall 8 along their forward e ges as tain of which are designated 82L in Fig.'8.

The sleeve 8l is adapted to be projected through ahole inthe windshield frame 2 and to be clamped therein by a nut 83a that is applied to its forward end.l The "sleeve 81 constitutes the only connection between the` motor casing and the windshield frame, and the motor is held against' turning by a posit-ioning stud 84 which projects from the front wall 82 and enters a hole in the frame. The forward end of the shaft 8O is shownv as tapered and knurled for the application of a lao wiper carrying arm 85 that is maintained rigidly in place upon the shaft by a nut 86 that is screwed onto the reduced threaded end of the shaft'80. A Wiper 87, of usual constructiomis connected at 88 to the arm 85 so that as the arm is swung from side to side it will move the wiperI to and from across the windshield pane in contact with which the Wiper is constantly maintained with the proper degree of pressure resiliency of the arm 85.

A cap 90 houses the gear 87 and the other parts which project above the plane of wall 6 and at its forward end cooperates with the wall 82 and about'its side and rear portions with the wall 6. The cap is shown as hav-l ing an air admitting opening 91. For the purpose of lubricating all working' parts of `v the motor, oil is introduced into the valve spaceforwardly of the partition wall 25, and in the operation of the motor avquantity of this oil finds its way into the operating chamber 10 on both sides of the vane 11 y through ports 43 and Means for manually operating the cleaner is provided in the form of a. handle 93 that is fastenedto the forward end of a spindle 94 which isjournaled within a bearing aperture in the lower portion of the wall 82 and carries a gear 95 at its rear end which meshes with the gear'78.

A suitable conduit 96 has one of its ends applied to the. connection 33 of the motor and leads to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine (not shown) by which the vehicle is propelled. A valve 97 is interposed-between sections of the conduit and has its operating handle 98 exposed through the instrument board in convenient reach of the driver.

When the valve 97 is open, suction created by the inherent within. the intake manifold bythe `normal olperation of the engine is communicated vto t e chamber 30 and, according to the position of the relay valve 72, to one or the other of the cylinders'l and 62. As the parts are shown in Fig. 4, suction prevails within the cylinder 61 and as a consequence thereof the piston 58 has been retracted to move the main valve to the right, thereby to throw the compartment A of the `operating chamberlO into communication with the chamber f 30. This results in the vane 11 being moved to the right, atmospheric air being admitted to the compartment B through the port 44. As the vane swings. within the casing it will rotate the gear 67 in a corresponding direction and the ,movement thereof istransmitted through the gears ,68, 78 and 79 to the shaft 80 thereby to swin the wiper 87 across the windshield pane. bviously the movement' ofthe wiper is limited by that of the` vane, and the vane is arrested in its move-l ment by the engagement of one of the bumpers 23 with the wall 25. While this operation is taking place the pin 75, that is carried by the gear 68, travels to the right (as viewed in Fig. 4) and engages the corresponding abutment 74 of the relay valve, reversing the position of said valveand establishing communication between the chamber 30 and the cylinder 62, at the same time throwing the cylinder 61 open to the atmosphere. When this takes place, the piston within the cylinder 62` is retracted and the main valve 50 slid to its left hand position -whereupon communication is established between the chamber' 30 and the compartment B, while compartment A is thrown open 'tothe atmosphere through the port 43. This A will result in the returning of the vane 11 to its former position wherein it is stopped by the engagement of the other bumper 23 v with the wall 25 and the wiper 87 `will be swung in the opposite direction .across the pane.

ne regulated by the a justinent of the valve. It isapparent from the foregoing description that the action of the motor is positive at every hase of its operation and that a fdead center condition is impossible of ,oc-

currence.

If forany reason it is desirable tov operate the cleaner bv hand, as occasionally in a The motor will continue to operate as above described so long asthe valve 97 remams open, and the s eed of the motor may a very light rain, the same may be accom- .y plished by means of the handle23, the motion whereof is transmitted through the gears 95, 78 land 79 to the shaft 80 and thence `to thearm 85 of the cleaner 87.

Havin thus described my invention, what 1:" motor of vthe class described, the' eomlf nuttin of-a'asing, a partition dividing the same into an operating chamber and a valve'space, a vane mounted to oscillate within the operating chamber and dividing the time into two compartments, the casing enclosing a pressure fluid chamber 'adjacent said partition, the partition having a main port leading into the pressure fluid chamuer and ports spaced laterally therefrom leading into the respective compartments of the operating chamber, a main valve cooperating with said ports and by ineansof which when it is moved in opposite directions said compartments are, in alteration, placed in communication with the pressure fluid chamber, pressure fluid means for operating the main valve, the partition having passageways leading to the pressure fluid means and a second port opening into the pressure fluid chamber, a relay valve through whlch said passageways are, 1n alteration,

placed in communicationavith the pressure fluid chamber, Vand operative connect-ions between the vane and the relay valve.A

2. In a lnotor of the 'class described, the combination of a casing, a partition dividing the same into an operating chamber and a valve space, a vane mounted to oscillate Within the operating chamber and dividing the same'into two compartments, the vane having a shaft extending through one of the casing walls, the casing enclosing a .pressure fluid chamber 'adjacent the partition, the partition having a main port opening into the pressure fluid chamber and ports spaced laterally therefrom in opposite directions which open respectively into said compartments, a mainvalve slidably engaging the.

partition and cooperating with said ports so that when said valve is moved in oppositeA directions it will establish` communication between the pressure Huid chamber and first one and then the other of said compartments pressure fluid means for moving the main,

valve, the partition having passageways leadmg to said pressure fluid means, the partition having also a second port opening into l the pressure fluid chamber, a gear member rotatably supported within the valve space onan axis :at substantially right angles to that' of the aforesaid shaft, a gear member mounted upon the aforesaid shaft and cooperating with the first mentioned gear member, a relay valve supported for oscillation upon the axis of the tirstanentioned gear member and adapted when moved in opposite directions to establish con'lmunication between first one and then thel other of said passageways and the second mentioned port, and means through which the first mentioned gear member, when oscillated, will move the relay valve in opposite directions. j

3. In a motor of the class described, the combination of a casing, a partition dividing the same into. an operating chamber and a valve space, a vane mounted tonoscillate withwhich open respectively into said compartments, a main valve sldably engaging the partit-ion and cooperating with said ports so that when said valve is moved in opposite directions it will establish communication between the pressure fluid chamber and first one and then the other of said compartments, pressure fluid means for 'moving 'the main valve, the partition having passageways leading to said pressure fluid means, the partition havingl also a second port opening into the pressure fluid chamber, a gear member rotatably supported within the valve Vspace on an axis at substantially right angles to that of the aforesaid shaft, 'a gear member mounted upon the aforesaid shaft and cooperating with the first mentioned gear. member, a relay valve supported for oscillation upon the axis of the first mentioned gear member and adapted when moved in opposite directions to establish communication between first one and then the other of said passageways and the second mentioned port, means through which the first mentioned gear member, when oscillated, will move the relay valve in opposite directions, a bearing in the casing above the axis of the first mentioned. gear Inember, a shaft journaled Within said bearing, and driving connections between the first mentioned gear member and said shaft.

Il. In a motor of theclass described, the combination of' a casing, a partition dividing the same into an operating chamber and a valve space, a vane mounted for oscillation `wit-hin the operating chamber anddividing the same into two compartments, a shaft tor Awhich said vane is secured, said shaft eX- vtending through one of the casing Walls,

the casing having a main port and ports leading into the respective' compartments, valve mechanisln within the valve space for establishing communication between the main port and one or the other of the second 'mentioned ports, a gear member mounted for oscillation within the valve space on an axis at. substantially right. angles lto the said partition, operative connections between said gear member and the valve mechanism, a second gear member secured to the aforesaid shaft and meshing with the first mentioned gear member, a second shaft supported for oscillation by the casing substantially' arallel with the axis of the first mentione gear member, and driving connection between said first mentioned gear member and the last mentioned shaft.

lnfi

lln

. and a valve space, a vane 5.-In a motor of the class described, the combination of a casing, a partition divid ing' the saine'winto an 'operating chamber mounted for oscillation within the operating chamber and dividing the same into two compartments, a shaft to which the vane is secured vand one end of which projects `through a wall of the casin the casin enclosing a pressure iiuid cham adjacen thevaforesaid partition, the partition having a. main port openingA into the pressure laterally therefrom in opposite directions `which open respectively into said compartments, a main valve cooperating with said ports and serving, when moved in opposite directions, to establish communication between the main port and `first one and then the other of said compartments, cylinders within the valve space, a piston-within each cylinder, operative connections between the `operative connections between pistons and the main valve, the partition Ahaving passageways leading to the respective cylinders, the partition having a second port opening into thepress'ure fluid chamber, a relay valve for establishing communication between the second port. and first one and then the other. of the -passageways, and the aforesaid shaft and the relay valve. j r

6. In a motor ofthe class described, the combina-tion ofa casing, a-partition dividing thevsame into an operating chamber and a` valve space, a vane mounted for oscillation within the operating chamber kand dividing the same into two compartments, 'a shaft to tending through oneY of the casing walls, the casing having a main port and ports leading into .the respective compartments, valve mechanism within the valve space for establishing communication between the main port and one or the other of the second mentioned ports, a Gear membei` mounted for oscillation within the valve space on an 'axis at 'substantially right angles to the said partition,

gear member and the valve mechanism, and

` a second gear member secured to the aforesaid shaft and meshing with the first mentioned-gear member. p

7 In a motor of the classdescribed, the combination of a casing, a partition dividing thesame into an operating chamber and. a valve space, a vane mounted .for oscillation within the perating chamber and dividing the same into two compartments, a.

, shaft to which. said vane is secured, said shaft extending through one of the .casing walls, the casing having a main port and ports leading into' the respective compart ments, valve mechanism within the valve space for establishing communication between the main port and one or the other 'of the second mentionedports, a gear member fluid chamber and ports spaced operative connections between said mounted 1for oscillation within the 'valve space on an axis at substantially right angles to the saidspartition, operative connections between said gear member and the valve mechanism, 'a second gear' member secured to the aforesaid shaft and meshing with the first mentioned gear member, a second shaft supported for oscillation by the casing substantially vparallel with mentioned Vgear member, and driving connection between said first mentioned gear member and the last mentioned shaft, a wiper carrying member having operative connection with the last mentioned shaft.

8. In a motor of the character set forth, a casing, a partition wall dividing the casing into an operating chamber and a valve space, said partition consisting of two plates arranged one beside the other,.one of said plates being flat and having a plurality of openings, the second plate havingdepressed channels through which certain ofl said openings communicate, a valve movably errgaging the first plate and controlling certain of the openings therein., anda member movable within the operating chamber.

9. A motor of the character .set forth coin,

prising a casing, a partition dividing the casing into an operating v chamber and a valvespace, said partition consisting of two plates arranged one againsty the other, one

of said plates having an offset portion providing between it `and the adjacent pprtion a valve through ,which the last mentioned-ports are alternately thrown into communication with the first mentioned the axis of the first en e - of the other plate a motive iiuid chamber,

and havingv withI the other e' plate ports 4which open. into `they operating g chamber,

port, a member adapted torbe moved back" and forth within th'e operating chamber by the motive fluid admitted through -fthe aforesaid ports, and means through which said valve is controlled by the aforesaid member.

10. A motor of -the character setforth comprising a casing having opposed walls rovided with. bearings, a .shaft journaled within said'bearings and projectin beyond one-of them, the casing bein o arcuate formation and concentric `wit res t to the axis of the shaft, a vane secure l shaft and o erating within the casing, a partition wa dividing said casing into an to the iin operating 'chamber and'v a valvespace, the

vane being located within and dividingthe operating chamberinto two compartments, said partition wall bein composed plates arranged oneV beside the. other, the plate adjacent a depressed portion formed to -coo rate with the shaft and to provide betwenitself of' two the operatingchambe'r, having i and the other plate a motive fluid chamber, said plate having also depressed passage- Ways through one of which motive fluid is supplied to said chamber, the other of said' nately between one of tlie lirst mentioned ports and two of the aforesaid openings which lead, respectively, to lthe said pneumatics, a main valve cooperating with the other of the first mentioned portsand hav- -injg operative connection with the pneuinatics whereby said pneumatics move it a relayv valve for establishing communication alter-- alternately in opposite directions, tition Wall having ports which lead into the compartments of the operating chamber. and which are alternately thrown into communication with the second of said first mentioned main valve, a stud within the valve space adjacent the partition wall, the relay valve being movably supported adjacent said stud, a gear meniberupon said stud, a gear membei` upon the projecting end of the aforesaid shaft and Wherewith the former gear member meshes, and means carried by the first gear member for actuating the relay valve.

the parports by the operation of the In testimony whereof, I hereunto ax my signature.

sAMUiaiJ LiPiaERi. 

